6

Norwegian jazz-rock trio Krokofant are not only back with their sixth album, but they have returned to the trio of Tom Hasslan (guitars), Axel Skalstad (drums) and Jørgen Mathisen (saxophone) following on from two albums where they expanded the line-up with the addition of organist Ståle Storløkken and bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten. The first thing ones notices when playing this is that this is very much an album out of time, feeling as if it is coming to us straight from the Seventies with a very high influence from both Soft Machine and King Crimson while Mathisen obviously loves his Coltrane, and the band themselves say this is for fans of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bushman's Revenge, Elephant9, Red Kite and Kanaan, and any album which references John McLaughlin is going to make me sit up and take notice.

I have often said that a trio is my favourite band format as there is absolutely nowhere to hide, yet it must be said this also sounds like a quartet, given the importance of bass and some Organ. Putting that to one side and wondering just how they replicate it as a trio, this is one heck of an introduction to Krokofant, who are new to me. It is dynamic, powerful, tight as can be imagined, and while there are a few moments which sound as if the band are having a jam, there is plenty more which has obviously been deeply rehearsed given the way the different musicians are locked in for the runs. There is something special about those who have worked together for so long that they have a sixth sense about what they want to achieve and trust everyone implicitly and that is definitely what we have here.

When they wish they can be raw and powering, using distortion as a friend, at others very clean indeed, and Skalstad never stops working, creating a battery of sounds for either Hasslan or Mathisen to bounce against. There is a huge depth to the sound which makes me wish I was playing this on vinyl as opposed to digitally as this is music designed for the richer format. It is jazz inspired progressive rock which has been thrown back fifty years and is all the better for it. All power to Is it Jazz? Records as this is a great album and I look forward to discovering their others.